Packaging apparatus and method of packaging



Jana 1954 w. F. FEYRER PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PACKAGING Filed Feb. 12. 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 a 3 mm Q Q G NQ E QM 1. 1 mklv. N %w -l, m wow P W w o o o r o o vk F ill .I [ll 4 l mm M M o o o o\ o o\ o o o 0. Q m 111 L o o e a m M W 0\ nrToeA/sr Jan. 26, 1954 w. F. FEYRER 2,667,019

PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PACKAGING Filed Feb. 12, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILL/4M F Fsyese ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1954 W. F. FEYRER PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PACKAGING Filed Feb. 12, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Wax/mu TTORNEY Jan. 26, 1954 w. F. FEYRER PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PACKAGING 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 12

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INVENTOR. W/LLMM F FEYEEE H TTOENEY WAX Jan, 26, 1954 w. F. FEYRER 2,667,019 PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PACKAGING Filed Feb. 12, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 65 INVENTOR WILL/AM F I Z-YEEE ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1954 w. F. FEYRER 2,667,019

PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PACKAGING Filed Feb. 12, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 TIE-P F F Thj 1 JM/ 544 342/ 544 Z44 238 636 if i 1 22: 2/2 /{D I I (I 225 T7, W. U Q v M45 K I Rs 1.7 INVENTOR.

Jan. 26, 1954 w. F. FEYRER PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PACKAGING 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Feb. 12, 1949 mfi mml xv h 0\ I l i 0Q A um A? n M Q I l w? Q I! mom ha \I HTTOENFY Patented Jan. 26, 1954 PACKAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PACKAGING William F. Feyrer,

Englewood, N. J assignor to Nathan L. Solomon, Englewood, N. J. Application February 12, 1949, Serial No. 76,116

33 Claims.

This invention relates to packaging apparatus, method of packaging, and product thereof, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for automatically mounting one or more work pieces or products on cards, or similar mounting members, with one or more adhesive tapes, and to the product of such method.

Among the objects of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for effecting fast, high quality, production of so-called fiat pack articles, the apparatus being of such character that it requires a minimum of care and attention during its operation.

Another object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for securely mounting prod ucts or work pieces upon cards with one or more adhesive tapes in such manner that the operator need not soil his hands with gummy tape or the like, the apparatus being of such character and construction that the adhesive tape will not cause the cards to stick together.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a novel method of packaging articles by mounting them upon cards by adhesive tape or tapes.

A further object of the invention lies in the novel package resulting from practice of the packaging method of the invention.

Yet a further object of the invention, in one of the preferred embodiments described herein, is the provision of a machine of the type indicated in which the articles to be mounted on the cards are fed automatically to the machine and thence to the assembly station.

A still further object of the invention, in preferred embodiments thereof, is the provision in the control circuit for the driving means for the packaging machine .of safety devices which automatically stop the machine should the articles to be packaged not be seated correctly on the conveying platens, and also stop the machine should the cards upon which such articles are to be mounted not be fed correctly to the assembly station.

In its preferred embodiments illustrated herein the apparatus of the invention includes a plurality of connected platens, each provided with a plurality of article receiving recesses in the top surface thereof. The connected platens are driven in such direction that they travel sequentially beneath a card dispensing hopper, which deposits one card on top of the articles on each platen as the latter passes the card feeding hopper. The apparatus also includes means whereby one or more adhesive tapes, the adhesive coated side facing upwardly, are positioned beneath the articles seated on the platens. The thus superimposed adhesive tape, articles to be packaged, and the cards are then carried by the platens to an assembling station, at which point in its travel a presser member mounted in each platen beneath each adhesive upwardly to press such tape against the articles to be packaged and into contact with the card at points between the articles. After the platen has left the assembling station, a cutter means is brought into action to cut the tape or tapes in the locations between successive sures that the articles are securely seated in the recesses on the platens before the platens pass beneath the card dispensing hopper, the second safety control means being a feeler member at the assembling station, which insures that the card is superimposed correctly upon the platen Should either the machine stopped.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which show preferred embodiments thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the first have been loaded onto the platens thereof;

Fig. 3 1s a View in vertical cross-section through for the provision Fig. is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the card feeding hopper of the apparatus, Figs. 4 and 5 illustrating the location of the hopper relative to the conveyor longitudinally of the latter;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view in bottom plan of the connected chain of platens forming the conveyor of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear view partially in section and partially in elevation of a platen of the conveyor with the card pusher fingers or pins in their intermediate, card engaging, positions, and with the tape pressing members in their lowered, retracted positions, the platen being shown in that portion of its travel in which it cooperates with the slats on the bottom of the card dispensing hopper;

Fig. 8 is a view of the platen per se, taken in a manner similar to that in Fig. I, but with the card pusher pins and the tape cutters carried thereby in their fully xtended, raised, positions;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view in plan of the rear portion of the platen shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and of a portion of a card cooperating therewith;

Fig. 10 is a view in vertical section through the platen, the section being taken along the lines iBi 6 in Figs. '7 and 8;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view in vertical section of the platen and the card pusher mechanism of the platen, the view being taken along the line H-i l in Fig. 7, the platen being shown with its recesses loaded with articles to be packaged;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the feed-in side of the card dispensing hopper, the view being taken from. the line 12-12. in Figs. 1, 2, and 13;

Fig. 13 is a view in longitudinal vertical section through the rear safety mechanism and the card feeding hopper, the platens being shown loaded with articles to be packaged, the section being through the machine along the line 4-4 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in elevation. of the feed-out side of the card hopper;

Fig. 15 is a view in end elevation of the packaging apparatus, the view being taken from the line i5-l5 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view in plan of a second embodiment of the machine, such embodiment incorporating an automatic feeding. means for the articles to, be packaged, the view being taken in the vicinity of the article feeding hopper from the line i5-| 6 in Fig. 17;

Fig. 17 is a view in vertical section through the apparatus of the second embodiment, the section being taken along the line i'l-l! in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a somewhat schematic wiring diagram of the electrical controls and safety devices of the machine;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary view in vertical section through the platen and the upper pressing member at the assembling station when the two are juxtaposed, the section being taken through the platen in the same manner as that of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 20 is a view in plan of a card with a series of similar objects mounted or packaged thereon, such card resulting from operation of the machine of the invention.

As has been indicated above, Figs. 1 to 15, inclusive, 18, and 19 illustrate a first embodiment of the machine in which the articles to be packaged are loaded onto the platens of the work conveyor manually. Figs. 16 and 17 show the second embodiment of the machine, which is identical with that of the first embodiment except therein of a hopper for automatically loading the articles to be packaged into the recesses on the platens of the machine. Fig. 20 shows the final assembly of articles on a card resulting from operation of either embodiment of the machine.

The machine is shown mounted upon a horizontal foundation plate 2, from which rise the parallel spaced side plates 5. and 6 which are attached thereto by screws 8, as shown in Fig. 3. The work piece or article It and card carrying platens 10 of the packaging conveyor, are connected. serially together to form an endless conveyor chain, as indicated in Fig. 1. Such platens, which in vertical cross section have the shape indioated in Figs. 7 and S, are each provided with a longitudinally extending bottom recess i l within which fit the links for attaching the successive platens together. As shown most clearly in Fig. 6', such connecting links consist of the double ended bifurcated links l3, between which are fitted the narrow straight links l2. A series of transverse connecting pins Hi extend through openings in links 12 and 13, as shown, the ends of pins i4 extending into bores in the bottom portion of platen ill on either side of the recess II, as indicated in Figs. 3, 7, and 8. The right and left hand end bores of the rear of the platen are designated l5 and 15, respectively, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Similar bores are provided in the forward portion of the platens, one such bore being shown at i; in Fig. 10. Longitudinal bottom recess l l in each platen has a smaller, deeper portion in the mid-point thereof, such portion being designated 13. As shown in Fig. 3, recess [3' has the function of receiving the outer edge of links 13 between the side walls thereof and of maintaining links 12 and i3 centrally located in recess ii. Each platen I0 is provided with set screws which retain the cross pins ill from movement transversely of the platen, one such set screw l9 being shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9.

Each platen is provided on its upper surface with a plurality of spaced transverse recesses [8 receiving the articles [6 to be packaged. In this instance the articles to be packaged are elongated hair curlers which have a thickness, or vertical height when lying horizontally in recesses l8, slightly in excess of the depth of the recesses. The articles It to be packaged are shown mounted in recesses It in Figs. 3, 13, 14 etc., and are shown in Fig. 20 in the final package, articles 16 being there shown mounted on card M2.

The series of platens it, connected as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, are traversed sequentially through the various stations of the machine. Such chain of connected platens is supported at the top of the machine on the horizontal parallel track members 20, at the left in Fig. 3, and 22, at the right, in Fig. 3. The platens travel in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, being supported and driven in arcuate paths at the ends of the machine by sprockets, to be described, and in its bottom, return, run on the parallel horizontal track members 24, at the left in Fig. 3, and 26, at the right. At the left in Figs. 1 and 2 the machine is provided with an idle sprocket shaft 28 which carries thereon a double sprocket consisting of the sprocket flange 30, the intermediate hub member 34, and the sprocket flange 32, as shown in Fig. 3. Sprocket flanges 88 and 32 lie on opposite sides of links i3, and, as shown in Fig. 3, receive within their peripheral recesses the portions of pins [4 between links l3 and the sidewalls or recesses ii in the platens it.

Shaft 28 is provided at the left in Fig. 3 with a spacer sleeve 38 and at the right with a spacer sleeve 33, such sleeves having connected thereto the flanged slide members 49 and 42, respectively. Members ill and 52 are received in horizontal guideways in their respective supporting plates 4 and 6, the guideway in plate 4 being designated 64, and that in plate 5 being denoted 45. As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, shaft 28 and thus the double sprocket mounted thereon, are adjustable longitudinally of the machine frame to tighten or loosen the conveyor made up of the platens it. Such adjustment is provided by the screws es and 58, shown in Fig. 2, the inner end of each such screw being swivelly connected to its respective slide member 4!) and 42, whereby the shaft 23 maybe adjusted either to the right or to the left in Figs. 1 and 2,.to loosen or tighten the conveyor chain, respectively, and .may also be brought into parallelism with shaft 52 by relative adjustment of screws :38 and 52,.

At the right in Figs. 1 and 2 the apparatus is provided with a driven shaft 52 spaced from and parallel to shaft 28. Shaft 52 carries keyed thereon a similar double sprocket of which one toothed flange Ed is shown in 1. Shaft 52 is provided on its outer end with a sprocket 5% over which is entrained a driving chain 53. Chain 58 is driven by any suitable means. In Fig. 18 there is diagrammatically indicated an electric motor 62 connected to a speed reducer 60, from the latter of which chain 58 is driven.

The packaging apparatus of the invention may be generally described as comprising four zones or stations, indicated by the letters A, B, C, and D in Figs. 1 and 2. Station A is the loading station wherein the articles to be packaged are loaded into the recesses on the platen. In the first described embodiment of the apparatus such articles are loaded manually; in the second embodiment of the apparatus, to be subsequently described, such articles are loaded automatically. Station B is the position in the apparatus wherein the cards on which the articles are to be mounted are fed automatically to the platens of the conveyor passing thereunder. Station C is the zone of the machine in which the adhesive tapes, fed through the machine under the cards and the articles to be mounted on the cards are automatically pressed up into contact with the articles and the cards. At the forward end of the assembling station C there is a subzone wherein the tapes between adjacent cards are severed. Station D, at the right in Figs. 1 and 2, is the point at which the separated, finally assembled, cards and articles are discharged from the machine.

The two adhesive tapes 88 and as employed in the apparatus described are pulled from supply reel at the left hand end of the apparatus as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the driven conveyor consisting of the connected platens l5 performing such pulling of the tapes once operation of the machine has been begun. As a preliminary to such operation the tapes are threaded through the platens at least to the vicinity of assembly of the articles thereon, that is, station A, by hand.

The tape supply means is shown in detail in Figs. 1 and 15. In such figures, the rear end of the machine frame is shown provided with a pair of parallel depending adhesive tape reel supportin members 8 3 and 65, member .35 being attached to plate 6 by means of the stud 55, and member 66 being attached to the plate t by means of stud 6'1. Members 68 and 56 are connected together by vertical plate 63, which is shown attached to such members by. machine screws. Mounted upon the rear face of member 68 is a pair of parallel spaced adhesive tape reel supporting members 10 and 72, such members carrying between them the cross shaft 74. The ends of shaft 14, beyond their respective supporting members, are reduced in diameter, that at the left in Fig. 15 being shown at 82 and that at the right being shown at 86. On ends 82 and .86, respectively, of the shaft 14 are supported the rolls l6 and 18 of adhesive tape. The rolls are so coiled, and they are so mounted on the machine that, when the tapes are pulled oif them onto the conveyor in the manner shown in Fig. 1, the adhesive coated side of each of the tapes lies outwardly and upwardly of the conveyor.

The rolls l5 and 18 of adhesive tape are retained upon the ends of shaft i l by means of the identical retaining members 85 and .84, re, spectively. The ends 32 and 86 of shaft 14 are flattened at the top and bottom inwardly of their tips, as indicated in Fig. 15. Each retaining member is slotted, the slot in member as being shown at 85, Fig. l. The width of slot 8.5 is such that the flattened and thus narrower portion of end 86 is snugly received within it, whereby member 84 is retained on the shaft against both endwise and rotative movement but may be readily removed to allow replacement .of the roll of adhesive tape.

The rolls it and l8 of adhesive tape are so 'located on their supporting means, and the widths of the tapes are such, that the stretches of tape 88 and 98, respectively, delivered therefrom are in line with, and fit within the grooves s2 and 94, respectively, which extend longitudinally .of the top surface of each of the platens Hi. The adhesive tapes preferably employed in the machine are of the type employing a regenerated cellulose backing and having a pressure sensitive adhesive coating thereon. A well known tape of this type, suitable for the operation of the machine, is that known as Scotch tape. It obvious, however, that adhesive tapes of other characters may be employed in accordance with and in the use of the apparatus of the invention.

The construction of the platens iii, .of the card pushing pins or fingers, and of the adhesive tape pressing members associated therewith, will be made plain by consideration of Figs. 7 to 11, inclusive. Each platen i0 is provided at its rear edge with two similar and simultaneously operated card pushing fingers, I68 and Hi). The mounting mechanism for finger H5 is shown at the left in Figs. 7, 8, .and 9, wherein platen Ill is provided at the left with a T-shaped guideway, the large portion of such guideway being designated es and the small, outer, central stem portion thereof communicating with the rear edge of the platen being designated 52?. At the right, in these figures, platen It is provided with a similar guideway for finger it, such guideway having a large inner portion 98 and a small, outer, central stem. portion sit. Within the first named guideway is positioned a vertically reciprocable slide member me, the bottom end of which, protruding below the bottom of the platen, is designated 3!, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In the guideway at the right in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, there is positioned a vertically reciprocable slide member I02, the bottom portion of which is designated I04. The two slide members we and I02 are identical. The construction of both will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 11, which shows the slide I02 and the parts thereof in cross ate, card engaging,

has an intermediate offset bottom portion I04, porits outer upper edge the card pushing pin I08 which, as shown in Fig. 9, has an arcuate forward face and a flat rear face. The card pushing pin on slide I which corresponds to the pin I08 is, as indicated, designated section. Slide I02 portion I06 above the tion I06 carrying on Slides I00 and I02 are constantly urged toward their lowered, retracted positions, in which the tops of pins I08 and H0 lie beneath the top surface of platen I0. The slides I00 and I02 and the pins I08 and H0 are thus fully retracted at all times except for the period of their actuation by track members I16 and I18, to be described. The card pushing pins I08 and H0, as shown in Fig. '1 and, in full line, in Fig. 11, have been thrust by tracks I and I18 to their intermedipositions. Slide I02 is urged downwardly by the coil spring II2 which fits within a. spring socket H4 in slide I62, as shown in Fig. 11, the upper end of such spring fitting within a socket in the abutment block I I6. Block H6 is attached to platen I0 by means of the screw II8, as shown. A pin I20, the outer end of which protrudes from platen I0, extends into longitudinal slot I22 in the bottom portion I04 of slide I02, thus limiting the extent of vertical movement of the slide. The bottom end portions of slides I00 and I02, that is, portions IGI and I04, respectively, are bifurcated, as is indicated at the left in Fig. 8 where portion IOI is shown. On each slide, carried within the legs of such bifurcation on a transverse pivot pin, is a cam track following wheel. Such wheel on slide IOI is designated I28, and that on slide I02 is denoted I24. As is shown in Figs. '7 and 8, slide I00 is also provided with a coil spring, I26. which constantly urges it downwardly. The coil springs and the cam track following wheels of each of slides I60 and I02 cooperate with the longitudinally extending cam tracks I16 and I18 of the machine, subsequently to be described, to raise the card pushing pins H0 and I08, as the platens travel beneath the card dispensing hopper, to such height that the rear edge of the bottom card in the hopper is engaged thereby and the card is pushed from the stack in the hopper into the proper position on the platen. e slides are, subsequent to the assembling of the adhesive tapes and the articles on the cards, raised still further by the cam tracks to bring into operation the tape severing means now to be described.

The tape severing means on both slides I66 and I02 are identical, and so they will be described in detail in connection with slide I00 shown at the left in Figs. '1 and 8. The rear edge, which lies vertical in Figs. 7 and S, of the card thrusting pin IIO, which lies flush with the rear edge of the platen I0, is provided with a horizontal cross arm I30 attached thereto by the screw I32. On the outer end of the arm I30 there is attached the cutting blade I34, the upper edge of which is inclined, as shown. As shown, blade I34 lies vertically in line with the adhesive tape receiving groove in the top of the platen. The dimensions of the parts are such that the cutting blade I34 is normally positioned, except at the cutting station, with its upper edge at a position lower than the bottoms of recesses I8 in platen I0. Card pushing finger H0, and thus the cutting blade I34, remain in the position shown in Fig. '1 until the card, engaged by fingers I08 and H0, and the articles to be mounted thereon have been the machine in station C. Thereupon the finger H0 is raised still further, carrying with it the blade I34 which severs the adhesive tape in that position between the rear edge of one card and the front edge of the other.

As indicated, the construction of the tape severing means associated with card pushing pin I08 is similar to that previously described. Slide I02 is provided on its rear edge with the transverse arm I36 attached thereto by the screw I38. On the outer end of arm I36 there is provided a cutting blade I40 which lies vertically in line with the longitudinal tape receiving groove 94 at the top of platen I0.

Grooves 92 and 94 in the platen I0 are, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, as well as Fig. 10, of substantial vertical extent. Communicating with each such groove 92 and 94 is a central vertical guideway, that at the right in Figs. '1 and 8 being shown at I48. Within each thus provided T-shaped guideway in the platens is mounted a T-shaped slide or presser member. The presser member associated with groove 84 consists of an elongated top portion I50 and a central vertical stem member I52 which reciprocates in guideway I48. See Fig. 10. Positioned on top of, and cemented to, portion I50 of th presser member is the soft resilient pad I54, shown as made of rubber, which extends throughout substantially the entire length of the platen. The stem of each of the presser members is provided at its bottom with a cam track following wheel, that on stem I52 being designated I56, and that on stem I54, at the left in Figs. '7 and 8, being designated I68. The presser members or slides are normally urged into their lowermost positions, shown in Figs. '1 and 8, in which the top surface of each of the resilient presser pads lies below the bottoms of recesses l8 in the platens, by means of spring members acting between them and the body of the platen. For slide I50 there is provided a coil spring I58 seated within a seat I on the bottom of the platen, as shown, the other end of spring I58 being retained by abutment member I62 attached to stem I52 of slide I50 by means of stud I65. The construction of the presser slide at the left in Figs. '1 and 8 is similar to that previously described, the slide I10 (Fig. 12) carrying resilient pad I12 being provided with a central stem I64 which carries on the bottom thereof the wheel I66. Slide I10 is urged constantly toward its lowermost position by means of the coil spring I68 cooperating with a spring abutment I69 mounted on stem I64.

As above indicated, the card pushing pins, the tape severing cutters, and the assembling presser members or slides are actuated by cam track members positioned on the frame of the machine and along which the rollers on the bottoms of the slides run. Such tracks are shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. Extending between plates 4 and 6 and attached thereto is the horizontal plate I14, upon which ar positioned the cam tracks. In Fig. 3 there is shown a longer, higher track I18, at the left, and a track I18 identical therewith, positioned at the right. The rear ends of both such tracks, at the left as shown in Fig. 1, are inclined so that as the platens travel therepast the wheels on the bottoms of the pusher finger slides travel up such inclines and thence along the top surface of each of the respective tracks. The inclined entering end of track I16 is designated I80, and such inclined entering end of track I18 is designated I82.

The adhesive tape pressing and assembling assembled in members are actuated by means of the identical short lower tracks, such tracks being designated I84 at the left in Fig, 3, and I86 at the right. Th entering ends of such tracks are also inclined, the inclined entering end of track I84 being designated I88, and such end of track I86 being shown at 5953. As indicated in Fig. 1, tracks I16 and 75 have their inclined entering ends located just to the rear of the card dispensing hopper, and the shorter, lower, tracks I 84 and I86 have their entering ends just under the entering end of the upper platen member 292 to be described. It will thus be evident that the card pushing fingers M18 and lit? on each platen are raised from a position in which the tops of the fingers lie beneath the top surface of the platen Ill to the position which they occupy in Fig. 7, in that portion of the travel of the platen beneath the card dispensing hopper, and that the presser slides on such platen are raised a the platen passes below the member 2&32. Tracks I84 and 86 terminate at the front of the machine at a location slightly beyond the front end of the upper presser member 292 but rearwardly of the location of termination of tracks I76 and H8. Tracks I34 and I86 are inclined downwardly at their forward termini, such forward end of track i8 2 being shown at I89 in Fig. 1. When the cam track following wheels I56 and I66 run down the inclined forward ends of tracks I84 and I85, the tape pressing pads on the slides to which such wheels are connected are retracted into the position which they occupy in Figs. 7, 8, and 10. The longer, higher, tracks are provided near their exit ends with a raised portion, such portion of track I76 being shown at I 92 in Fig. 1. Portion I92 of track I76 and the corresponding portion (not shown) of track I18, have the function of raising the card pushing fingers until they reach the position shown in Fig. 8, wherein the tape severing blades are raised to cut the tape in the locations between the mounting cards on successive platens. Tracks m and H8 terminate at a location a short distance in front of the front, exit, end of the upper presser member 292, subsequently to be described. The front end of track I is is shown at I93; such end is steeply inclined, to allow the rapid retraction of slides Hill and I02, and thus of pins Hi8 and I Hi, when the cam track following wheels i24 and I28 connected thereto run down such forward inclined ends of the tracks I76 and I18.

Each platen II] is further provided with two longitudinally extending grooves I94 and I 95, such grooves receiving the upper ends of stripper wires ids and 260, respectively, within them at the zone D, as indicated in Fig. 1. Such stripper wires, which are attached to mounting plate 2 by means of the screws 202, have the function of removing from the tops of the platens any cards which may adhere thereto after the platens have tipped substantially in their travel around the sprocket 54.

In both embodiments of the machine shown, that is, that in which the articles I6 are placed in the recesses I 8 on the platens I manually, and that in which they are fed thereto automatically, there are provided safety-means whereby should the articles not seat in the desired manner in the recesses on the platens the machine is automatically stopped, thereby preventing any possible damage to the machine. The construction of such first saiety control is shown in Figs. 1,. 2, 13, and 16.

Attached to the plate 6 by studs 208 and 2I0',

respectively, immediately to the rear of the card feeding hopper, are two spaced vertically positioned supporting members 2% and 295. On the opposite side of the machine, similarly positioned, are a pair of similar members, 2 I B and 220, attached to plate 4 by studs 222 and 22 i, respectively. Pivotally attached by. pivot pin 2I2 between members 204 and 206 are the two parallel bridge members 2M and 2I6 which extend across the machine above the chain of platens. Members 2M and 2I6, which carry mounted beneath them the detecting feeler and Dresser members to be described, may be latched in horizontal position between members 2I8 and 220 by means of the latch pin 226, which may be thrust through or withdrawn from the bridge members and the supporting members 2 I8 and 220 by means of the knob 228.

Suspended below member 2I4 and parallel thereto is the feeler member 23!) which carries on its bottom surface the four detecting fingers 236 spaced transversely of the platens, as shown in Fig. 15. Member 230 is constantly urged away from supporting member 2M by means of the coil springs 232, which surround the floating headed stud members 23 3 the lower ends of which are threaded into member 230. The mounting of member 230 is such that it may float upward against the action of springs 232, should an article to be packaged become wedged between the upper surface of a platen II) and one or more of the finger members 236. Mounted upon member 2I4 is a sensitive electrical switch 238, such as a microswitch, provided with leads 242 and 244, such switch having an operating plunger 24c which protrudes through an opening in member 2| t and into contact with the upper surface of member 230. When member 230 is moved upward to any substantial extent, as by the wedging of an article I6 between the feeler fingers 23% and the platens I0, the circuit through switch 238 is completed to operate the controls immediately to stop the driving motor for the machine, in a manner to be described in connection with the control circuit shown in Fig. 18.

The member 246, which is similar in all respects to the member 230, is also fioatingly mounted beneath its transverse supporting member 2H3. Member 246 and the fingers on the bottom. surface thereof (not shown), have the further function of maintaining articles I6 firmly in recesses I8 on the platens until they reach the un erside of the slats 282 beneath the card feed m hopper.

The card feeding hopper, generally designated 245, which is shown in Figs. 1, 2, 12. 13, and 14, consists of the two side members 252 and 25%, attached to frame members 6 and 4, respective y, by sup orting members 243 and 250, respectively. Sides 252 and 254 are each provided with vertical slots 260' to allow the cards I 42 stacked in the hopper to be manipulated, if necessary, within the hopper to insure their smooth downward feeding. The hopper has a rear wall member 256 and a forward wall member 258 connected to the hopper side members as shown. The forward wall member 258 is provided inwardly thereof with a vertically adjustable discharge gate 260 more clearly shown in Figs. 13 and 14. Gate 260 is attached to the forward wall 258 by means of the headed studs 2S2 mounted on the gate, such studs extending forwardly through the vertical slots 264 in member 258. Two laterally spaced vertical adiusting screws 268, of which one is shown in Figs. 1, 13, and 14, are provided between the overhang 266 on the upper edge of gate 260 and the upper edge of the front hopper wall 258. As a result of such construction, the lower edge 2111 of the adjustable gate 269 may be brought to a distance above the upper surface of the slat members 282, subsequently to be described, such that but one card at a time is released from the stack in the hopper 245 under the action of the pusher pins 108 and 1 19, the forward arcuate surfaces of which fit within the arcuate recesses 146 and 144, respectively (Fig.20) in the rear edge of each of the cards as stacked in the hopper.

The laterally spaced slats 282, shown as four in number in Fig. 12, are attached to the rear wall of the card feed hopper in the manner shown in Figs. 12 and 13. As there shown, a cross bar 212 is aflixed to the rear wall 256 of the hopper 245. Suspended from member 212 is a vertically adjustable cross member 214 which supports the slats. The connection between members 212 and 214 is such that the latter may be adjusted vertically to produce the desired spacing of the slats 282 from the bottom of the card feed hopper. The adjusting means takes the form of a plurality of studs 218 freely rotatable in bores in member 212 and threaded into member 214, and a plurality of studs 289 threaded into bores in member 212, the forward ends of studs 289 abutting the upper edge of cross member 214. Member 214 is additionally secured in adjusted position by means of a plurality of studs 216 extending therethrough and into the wall 256 of the feed hopper.

Adjustment of member 214 is accomplished by loosening slightly the studs 216 and by threading up or down, as the case may be, studs 289 in the desired locations accompanied by the necessary or required tightening up or loosening of the studs 218. When the desired adjusted position of member 214 is reached, the studs 216 are, as explained, tightened to retain the member 214 in such position.

Each of the slat members 282 is provided on its rear end with the upstanding portion 284, which is secured as shown in Fig. 12 to the rear face of member 214 by means of the studs 286. The holes through portion 284 of the slat members receive studs 286 sufficiently loosely so that the individual slat members may be adjusted to some extent, if desired, upon member 214. Slat members 282 have the dual function of retaining the articles 16 securely in the recesses 18 on the tops of the platens 19, and also of functioning with gate 266 to form the previously mentioned discharge opening in the forward bottom wall of the card hopper. The rear edges of slats 282 are rounded, as shown, so that they smoothly receive the incoming articles 16 on the platens. The card pushing fingers 198 and 1 are located laterally of the platens so that they lie between pairs of slats 282, as is indicated in the case of finger 119 in Fig. 14. The card pushing fingers which, as indicated in Fig. 13, have been raised to their intermediate card pushing position, thus ride between the slats and engage the bottommost card in the hopper at its rear edge. The card thus engaged travels from the hopper in the desired position with and above the platen. The forward upper surface of each of slats 282 is inclined downwardly at 290. The card engaged by fingers 1118 and 119 rides down the inclined forward surface 299 of the slats so as to fall in accurate position upon the top of its platen.

After leaving the card feeding station B each platen, carrying the articles to be mounted, with the card upon which the articles are to be mounted located above them, and with the adhesive tape which is to mount the articles running in the grooves longitudinally of the platens below the articles and the cards, is presented to the pressing and assembling station C. At such station there is positioned an upper platen or presser member 292 which spans the platens and lies immediately above the upper surfaces of the cards carried on the platens. Member 292 is carried upon the upright 294, which is attached to plate 6 of the machine, and the upright 296, which is attached to plate 4 of the machine, as shown. The forward edge of member 292 is provided with the two spaced upstanding ears 295 and 291, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, which fit immediately within and beside the supports 296 and 294, respectively. Such upright ears are pivotally connected to the upright supporting members by means of the pivot pin 298 through members 294 and 295 and the pivot pin 399 through members 299 and 291. Preferably the holes in ears 295 and 291 are made slightly larger than the pivot pins so that member 292 may move freely in a vertical direction to some extent at its forward end. Member 292, which is provided with the handle 394, may be latched in horizontal position so that its bottom surface confronts the top surfaces of the cards carried by the platens by means of the latch pins 319 and 312, such pins passing, respectively, through the vertical member 306 and through the member 398, both pins extending into the rear end of member 292. Members 306 and 308 are attached to the side plates of the machine frame, as shown. The latch pins are provided with knobs 31 1 and 313, respectively, to allow their insertion into or retraction from the member 292. When the latter member is unlatched, as, for instance, when the machine is being threaded, or should a card jam thereunder, it may be swung somewhat past vertical position against the horizontal stop rod 302, which extends between supporting members 294 and 296, where member 292 remains in stable condition until it is swung down into horizontal, operative, position.

The bottom surface of upper presser member 292 is flat throughout most of its area, as indicated at 315. The entering portion thereof, 311, at the rear, gradually inclines downwardly to meet surface 315, to insure the introduction of the platens and the cards and articles to be packaged carried thereby smoothly beneath member 292. The bottom surface of member 292 is provided with two grooves 314 and 316, extending longitudinally thereof, which are of sufiicient width and height, and are so located laterally of the platens travelling thereunder, as to allow the free passage of card pushing pins 198 and 110, respectively, as shown in Fig. 3. Pins 1118 and 1111 are in their intermediate positions, shown in Fig. 7, when travelling beneath member 292.

Positioned on top of member 292 is a sensitive electrical switch 318, such as a microswitch, the leads from which are designated 320 and 322. Switch 318 is of the type in which the circuit therethrough is open when the plunger 324, which extends downwardly through a bore in member 292, is thrust upwardly, the circuit being closed when the plunger 324 falls appreciably. Thus the circuit in which switch 318 is interposed is closed to stop the driving motor 62 for the machine unless cards are continually presented to the lower endtof its plunger on the platens travelling there- P The manner of control of the machine and the operation of the safety devices in its control circuit will be more clearly apparent from a con- 13 sideration of the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 18'. The main lead wires L and L1, which are connected to a source of current, not shown, are carried to the winding of a solenoid 328, there being interposed in one side of the circuit to the solenoid the switches 238 and 3m, connected in parallel, as shown. The solenoid 328 is normally de-energized, and when in such condition, has its plunger 93!! which is connected to the handle of switch 326, in the manner shown, urged into the position shown by means of the spring 339 so that its stop shoulder lies against the stop pin 332, thereby closing the main switch 325, which is interposed in the branch supply lines L-L1 to the motor 62. If, however, either one or both of switches 23S and (H 8, which are normally open, are closed, solenoid 328 is energized. Its plunger 33!) thereupon travels inwardly thereof and pulls the handle 334 of switch 326 to the right in Fig.

18, thereby breaking the circuit through leads L L and L'1, immediately stopping motor 62 and thus travel of the connected chain of platens Ill.

The packaging machine described above functions as follows. After the adhesive tapes $8 and 99 have been threaded into the grooves 92 and 94 in the platens I and have been temporarily secured to the conveyor, as by adhering them to one or more articles IS in recesses I8, the machine is placed in operation, the card feeding hopper having, of course, previously been supplied with a stack of cards I42 and cards having been fed therefrom so that switch SIS is opened and remains open. The operator of the machine, in its first described embodiment, continually places the articles It to be packaged in the recesses I8 of the platens as they travel by him at station A. The thus loaded platens travel to the right in Figs. 1 and 2, carrying the articles I6 beneath the first presser member 235, which, as described, has the additional detecting function and thence under the second presser member 245, from which point they travel beneath the slats 282, the slats being adjusted so that the bottom surfaces 288 thereof snugly engage the upper surfaces of articles I 6. By this time, as above described, the card engaging pins I98 and III] on a platen entering under slats 282 have been raised suihciently by tracks I16 and I18 so that they protrude about the thickness of a card I42 above the upper surface of slats 282, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7, and so that the pins engage the bottommost card in the card feeding hopper 245 and push it to the right down the inclined forward faces 290 of slats 282 and onto the top of the platen. The card pushing fingers I98 and H6 continue at the same height during this portion of the travel of the platen, the tape cutting members I34 and I49 carried thereby thus being below the level of the tapes in the grooves 92 and 94.

The thus superimposed tapes, articles, and cards carried on the platens are then presented to the assembling station C where, as explained, the tape presser members are impelled upwardly by the short low cam tracks I84 and I 86, which begin at the downwardly inclined, rear, entering end of the upper presser member 292. The dimension of the cards and the adjustments are such that when the bottom presser members are advanced to their topmost position the articles It to be packaged are pressed firmly against the card I42 and the card is pressed against the upper presser member 292, th soft resilient pad members I54 and I72 carried by the movable bottom presser members being deformed so that they temporarily partially flow about the articles IS in the manner shown in'Fig. 19. Thus the adhesive tape is pressed firmly into contact with the card I42 at its sides, and in those portions between the articles !6, as well as with the outer faces of the articles I6 spanned by such tape.

Just after each platen emerges from beneath the upper presser member 292, the slides carrying the card pushing fingers Hi8 and H0 are impelled further upwardly by the raised portions at the forward ends of the longer, higher, tracks Hi6 and I18 of which the raised portion I92 of track I16 is shown in Fig. l. carrying slides are then, as explained, in the position shown in Fig. 8. Such rising of the slides causes the cutters attached thereto to travel across and through the path of travel of the adhesive tapes 88 and 99 in those locations between adjacent platens, and thus between adjacent cards carried thereby, thereby cutting the cards apart. The resulting short lengths of tape, adhered to the articles I5 and the card I42 in the finished assembly shown in Fig. 20, are designated 88' and 90. The platens are located sufficiently" closely together so that after the severing of the tapes there remains but little exposed tape on each side of the card.

Upon continued travel of the platens, the tape presser slides are retracted when their actuating wheels run down the inclined ends of tracks I84 and I85, such retraction beginning, as is evident in Fig. 1, at about the same time when the further raising of slides I06 and I92 to cut the tapes between cards takes place. When the platens have travelled further to the right, in Fig. 1, the pusher pin and cutting blade carrying slides I [it and I92 are retracted astheir actuating Wheels run down the forward ends of' the tracks I76 and I18, the pins l E18 and H0 sinking beneath the top of the platen when such wheels leave the ends of the tracks. Thus at the discharge station D of the. machine the card pushing pins are entirely disengaged from the-cards.

The platens then continue on down over the sprocket 54 into the discharge station D. Such tipping of the platens is normally sufiicient to discharge the cards with the assembled articles thereon from the tops of the platens, since pins I 98 and II 0 have been retracted from engagement therewith. Should a card stick to a platen, however, it is removed by the stripper wires F98 and 299' which enter the grooves I94 and 195, respectively, on the tops of the platens beneath the forward edge of the card, thereby camming it off the platen and lifting articles I6 from recesses IS. without injury to the card or its contents.

As above explained the construction of the: second modification of the machine and the manner in' which it functions are identical with the-machine and its function above described except for the fact that in such second embodiment mechanism is provided for feeding the articles to be packaged automatically to the platens. The article feeding hopper, designated generally by the reference character 336, shown in Figs. 16 and 17, is secured to the frame of the machine in a position immediately to the rear of the feeler' and presser members 239 and 245, as shown. The article feeding hopper is supported by a first cross member 338, which extends across the machine and is secured to the plates 4 and 6, and a second cross member 349, parallel thereto, secured to the machine frame in the same manner. The inner confronting faces of members 3'38 and- 340 are cut away in their central The pushing finger portions to provide a vertical passage therethrough generally conforming to the shape in plan of the articles to be fed. Extensions to the thus provided hopper are formed by the two end. slat members 342 and 344 extending vertically from, and secured to, member 338, and by the rear, side slats 346 and the front slide slats 348, secured to the cross supporting members 338 and 340, respectively. Slats 342, 344, 346, and 348 thus define a hopper accurately fitting in plan the articles to be fed to the machine. Such articles are thus merely stacked in the hopper 336, their weight usually being sufiicient to feed them one at a time into the recesses 18 on the tops of the platens as the platens travel beneath such hopper, as shown in Fig. 17. It is desirable in some cases, for more positive feeding, to provide a plunger (not shown) in the form of a weight fitting within the upper portion of the hopper on top of the stack of articles, to insure their smooth and continuous feeding into the openings in the platens.

Both the described embodiments of the packaging machine of the invention are particularly rugged, so that their maintenance requirements are low. Such machines are fully protected against faulty feeding of articles to be packaged thereby, and also against faulty feeding of the cards on which the articles are to be mounted. Thus the machine is fully protected from damage from either of such two possible causes. The machine, particularly in that embodiment shown in Figs. 16 and 17, requires but little attention, practically all that is required being the keeping of the article feeding and the card feeding hoppers full of such respective articles, and the replacement of the rolls of adhesive tape as they become exhausted.

The packaged articles resulting from use of the machine are attractive, because of the symmetry of mounting of the articles on the card. The lower portions of articles [6 remain within recesses l8 during their passage through the pressing and assembling station C, and thus the articles are regularly spaced on the card I42. The increased length of adhesive tape required as it is carried down between the articles by the resilient presser pad (Fig. 19) is readily provided by the tape feeding means, since the adhesively coated faces of the tapes remain spaced from and thus free from contact with the bottom faces of the articles until the assembling station is reached. Thus the pressing operation shown in Fig. 19 does not tend to alter the spacing of the articles or to dislodge them from the recesses I8.

Further, when the preferred transparent adhesive tape is employed to secure the articles, each of the latter is visible over its entire outer area. Although the articles are firmlv secured to the card so that they will not become dislodged accidentally, they are not so strongly attached to the card that their removal is difi'icult when they are to be used. The fact that the resilient presser pad in flowing around the lower portions of the articles does not conform exactly to the sides of the articles causes the tape spanning an article to contact the card on both sides thereof at points spaced from the sides of the article, as shown in Fig. 20. This makes the removal of one or more articles from the card easily accomplished by any one of various methods, such as by cutting the tape on both sides of the articles to be removed, as with the finger nail, by running a pointed article along the s de of the article and under the tape, thereby raising and/or cutting it, or by lifting the article from the card at a point spaced from the tape, the tape thus being pulled free from the card and the article.

Although I have disclosed preferred embodiments of the packaging machine of my invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since such embodiments are illustrative only and the invention is capable of considerable variation as to details. The invention is, therefore, defined by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim as new the following:

1. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles on a supporting card comprising an assembling platen, a channel in a first face of the platen for holding therein in generally fiat position an adhesive tape with the adhesively coated side thereof facing outwardly of the platen, a series of spaced recesses in said first face of the platen crossing the tape holding channel to hold a plurality of articles to be packaged spaced in the desired relationship facing the adhesively coated side of the adhesive tape and in such relationship to the tape as to be spanned thereby, means on the platen to locate a supporting card overlying the articles and confronting the articles and tape with a broad surface of the card generally parallel to the adhesively coated side of the tape, and means to press the tape, articles, and card together in a direction normal to the latter so that the tape adheres to the tape confronting faces of the articles and to the card at locations on both sides of each article.

2. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles on a supporting card comprising an assembling platen, a channel in a first face of the platen for holding therein in generally fiat position an adhesive tape with the adhesively coated side thereof facing outwardly of the platen, a series of spaced recesses in said first face of the platen crossing the tape holding channel to hold a plurality of articles to be packaged spaced in the desired relationship facing the adhesively coated side of the adhesive tape and in such relationship to the tape as to be spanned thereby, the tape holding channel being deeper than the recesses, means on the platen to locate a supporting card overlying the articles and confronting the articles and tape with a broad surface of the card generally parallel to the adhesively coated side of the tape, and means in the channel to press the tape, articles, and card together in a direction normal to the latter so that the tape adheres to the tape confronting faces of the articles and to the card at locations on both sides of each article.

3. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles on a supporting card comprising an assembling platen, a channel in a first face of the platen for holding therein in generally flat position an adhesive tape with the adhesively coated side thereof facing outwardly of the platen, a series of spaced recesses in said first face of the platen crossing the tape holding channel to hold a plurality of articles to be packaged spaced in the relationship in which they are to be mounted with a first face of each article facing the adhesively coated side of the tape and in such relationship to the tape as to be spanned thereby, means on the platen to locate a supporting card overlying and confronting the articles and tape and with a first broad surface of the card generally parallel and close to the second face of each article, a first presser member overlying l2, and close to the second broad face of the card on the platen, a guide-way in the platen extendncrmal to the first face of the platen, the guidevvay directly communicating with the tape receiving channel in the platen, a second presser member mounted for reciprocation in the guide- Way, the outer surface of the second presser member constituting the bottom, tape supporting, surface of the channel, and means to impel the second presser member toward the first presser member to press the tape, the articles, and the card together so that the tape adheres to the first face of each article and to the first face of the card at locations on both sides of each article.

4. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles on a supporting card comprising an assembling platen, a channel in a first face of the platen for holding therein in generally flat positicn an adhesive tape With the adhesively coated side thereof facing outwardly of the platen, a series of spaced recesses in said first face of the platen crossing the tape holding channel to hold a plurality of articles to be packaged spaced in the relations which they ar to be mounted With a first race of each article facing the adhesively coated side of the tape and in such relationship to the tape as to be spanned thereby, means on the platen to locate a supporting card overlying confronting the articles and tape and with a first broad surface of the card generally parallel close to the second face of each article, a first broad presser member overlying and close to the second broad face of the card on the platen, a guideway in the platen extending normal to the first face of the platen, the guideway directly communicating with the receiving channel in the platen, a second presser member mounted for reciprocation in the guidevvay, the outer surface of the second presser ember constituting the bottom, tape supportsurfece of the channel, the outer surface the second presser member normally lying elow the bottom surfaces of the recesses, and ii cans to impel the second presser member toward the first press er member to press the tape, t e articles, and the card together tape adheres to the face of each article and t first face of the card at locations on both aged spaced in th- 1 e to be mounted with facing the adhesively in such relationship t thereby, means on the platen to locate a supporting overlying and confronting the articles and With a first broad surface of the generally parallel and close to the second face of each article, a first broad presser'rneinber -.r ing station beneath which the platen ZS movable overlying and close to the second broad face of the card on the platen, vuid- Way in the platen extending normal to me p aten, the guideway directly communicating tvith the tape receiving channel so that the were? 1 her being made of yieldable,

in the platen, a second pi esser member mounted for reciprocation in the guideway, the outer sur-' face of the second presser member constituting the bottom, tape supporting, surface of the channel, the outer portion of the second presser memresilient, material, and means responsive to travel of the platen into the assembly station to impel the second presser member toward the first presser member to press the tape, the articles, and the card together so that the tape adheres to the first face of each article and'to'the first face of the card at locations on both sides of each article.

6. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles on a supporting card comprising a platen, means to traverse the platen repeatedly'from a loading station to an assembling station, a chan nel in a first face of the platen for holding thercin in generally fiat position an adhesive tape with the adhesively coated side thereof facing outwardly of the platen, a series of spaced recesses in said first face of the platen crossing the tape holding channel to hold a lurality of articles to be packaged spaced in the relationship in which they are to be mounted with a first face of each article facing the adhesively coated side of the tape and in such relationship to the tape as to be spanned thereby, means including a card thrusting pin on the platen to locate a supporting card overlying and confronting the articles and tape and with a first broad surface of the card generally parallel and close to the second face of each article, the pin being impelled upwardly above the first face of the platen into card engaging position by means responsive to the travel of the platen into the loading station, a first broad presser member at the assembling station beneath which the loaded platen is movable overlying and close to the second broad face of the card on theplaten, a guideway in the platen extending normal to the first face of the platen, the guideway directly communicating with the tape receiving channel in the platen, a second presser member'rnounted for reciprocation in the guideway, the outer surface of the second presser member constituting the bottom, tape supporting, surface of the channel, the outer portion of the second presser member being made of yieldable, resilient, material, means responsive to travel of the platen into the assembling station to impel the second presser member toward the first presser member to p ess the tape, the articles, and the card together so that the tape adheres to the first face of each article and to the first face of the card at locations on both sides of each article, and means responsive to the travel of the platen out of the assembling station to retract the card thrusting pin and the second presser member.

7. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of artioles on each one of a plurality of supporting cards comprising a series of platens, means to traverse the platens sequentially and repeatedly from a loading station to an assembling station, a channel in a first face of each of the platens for holding therein in generally flat position the front end of an adhesive tape fed from a continuous source, with the adhesively coated side thereof acing outwardly of the platen, the channels in successive platens being aligned, a series of spaced recesses in said first face of each of the platens crossing the tape holding channel therein to hold a plurality of articles to be packaged spaced in the relationship in which they are to be mounted with a-first face of each article facing the a-hesively coated side of the tape and in such rela lOZLllp to the tape as to be spanned thereby, means on each of the platens to locate a supporting card overlying and confronting the articles and tape and with a first broad surface of the card generally parallel and close to the secend face of each article on the platen, a first broad presser member overlying and close to the second broad face of each of the cards on the platens as the platens travel therepast, a guideway in each of the platens extending normal to the first face of the platen, the guideway directly communicating with the tape receiving channel in the platen, second presser member mounted for reciprocation in the guideway, the outer surface of the second presser member constituting the bottom, tape supporting, surface of the channel, the outer portion of the second presser memher being made of yieldable, resilient, material, and means responsive to travel of each of the platens into the assembly station to impel the second. presser member of such platen toward the first presser member to press the tape, the articles, and the card on such platen together so that the tape adheres to the first face of each article and to the first face of the card at locations on both sides of each article.

8. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles on each one of a plurality of supporting cards comprising a series of platens, means to traverse the platens sequentially and repeatedly from a loading station to an assembling station, a channel in a first face of each of the platens for holding therein in generally flat position the front end of an adhesive tape fed from a continuous source with the adhesively coated side thereof facing outwardly of the platen, the channels in successive platens being aligned, a series of spaced recesses in said first face of each of the platens crossing the tape holding channel therein to hold a plurality of articles to be packaged spaced in the relationship in which they are to be mounted with a first face of each article facing the adhesively coated side of the tape and in such relationship to the tape as to be spanned thereby, means including a card thrusting pin on each of the platens to locate a supporting card. overlying and confronting the articles and tape and with a first broad surface of the card generally parallel and close to the second face of each article on the platen, the pin being impelled upwardly above the first face of the platen into card engaging position by means responsive to the travel of the platen into the loading station, a first broad presser member at the assembling station beneath which the loaded platen is movable overlying and close to the second broad face of the card on the platen, a guideway in the platen extending normal to the first face of the platen, the guideway directly communicating with the tape receiving channel in the platen, a second presser member mounted for reciprocation in the guideway, the outer surface of the second presser member constituting the bottom, tape supporting, surface of the channel, the top surface of the second presser member normally lying below the bottom surfaces of the recesses, the outer portion of the second presser member being made of yieidable, resilient, material, means responsive to travel of the platen into the assembling station to impel the second presser member toward the first presser member to press the tape, the articles, and the card together so that the tape adheres to the first face of each article and to the fit /t face of the card at locations on both sides of each article, and means responsive to the travel of a platen out of the assembling station to r tract the card thrusting pin of such platen and to retract the second presser member of such platen.

9. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles on each one of a plurality of supporting cards comprising a series of serially connected platens, means to traverse the platens sequentially and repeatedly from a loading station to an assembling station, a channel in a first face of each of the platens for holding therein in generally fiat position the front end of an adhesive tape fed from a continuous source with the adhesively coated side thereof facing outwardly of the platen, the channels in successive platens being aligned, a se *ies of spaced recesses in said first face of each of the platens crossing the tape holding channel therein to hold a plurality of articles to be packaged spaced in the relationship in which they are to be mounted with a first face of each article facing the adhesively coated side of the tape and in such relationship to the tape as to be spanned thereby, means including a plurality of card thrusting pins spaced laterally of the platen on each of the platens to locate a supporting card overlying and confronting the articles and tape and with a first broad surface of the card generally parallel and close to the second face of each article on the platen, the pins being impelled upwardly above the first face of the platen into card engaging position by means responsive to the travel of the platen into the loading station, a first broad presser member at the assembling station beneath which the loaded platen is movable overlying and close to the second broad face of the card on the platen, a guideway in the platen extending normal to the first face of the platen, the guideway directly communicating with the tape receiving channel in the platen, a second presser member mounted for reciprocation in the guideway, the outer surface of the second presser member being normally fiat and constituting the bottom, tape supporting, surface of the channel, the top surface of the second presser member normally lying below the bottom surfaces of the recesses, the outer portion of the second presser member being made of yieldable, resilient, material, means responsive to travel of the platen into the assembling station to impel the second presser member toward the first presser member to press the tape, the articles, and the card together so that the tape adheres to the first face of each article and to the first face of the card at locations on both sides of each article, and means responsive to the travel of a platen out of the assembling station to retract the card thrusting pins of such platen and to retract the second presser member of such platen.

10. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles on each one of a plurality of supporting cards comprising a series of platens connected in an endless chain, means to drive the chain to traverse the platens sequentially and repeatedly from a loading station to an assembling station, a channel in a first face of each of the platens for holding therein in generally fiat position the front end of an adhesive tape fed from a continuous source with the adhesively coated side thereof facing outwardly of the platen, the channels in successive platens being aligned, a series of spaced recesses in said first face of each of 21 the platens crossing the tape; holding channel therein to hold a plurality of articles to be packs aged spaced in the relationship in which they are,

with a. first face of each article side ofthe tape and to be mounted the adhesively coated in such relationship to the thereby, means including a plurality of card thrusting pins spaced laterally of the platen on the rear edge thereof on each of the platens to locate a supporting card overlying and confronting the articles and tape and with a first broad surface of the card generally parallel and close to the second face of each article on the platen, the pins being impelled upwardly above the first face of the platen into card engaging position by means responsive to the travel of the platen into the loading station, a first broad presser member at the assembling station beneath which the loaded platen is movable overlying and close to the second broad face or" the card on the platen, a guideway in the platen extending normal to the first face of the platen, the guideway directly communicating with the tape receiving channel in the platen, a second presser member mounted for reciprocation in the gnideway, the outer surface of the second presser member being normally flat and constituting the bottom, tape supporting, surface of the channel, the top surface of the second presser member normally lying below the bottom surfaces of the recesses, the outer portion of the second presser member being made of yieldable, resilient, material, responsive to travel of the platen into the assembling station to impel the second presser member toward the first presser member to press the tape, the articles, and the card together so that the tape adhe es to the first face of e ch article and to the first face of the card at locations on both sides of each article, and means responsive to the travel or" a platen out of the assembling station to retract the card thrusting pins of such platen and to retract the second presser member of such platen.

11. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of artielse on each one of a plurality of supporting cards comprising a series of platens, means to traverse the platens sequentially and repeatedly from an article loading station, to a card loading station, and thence to an assembling station, a channel in a first face of each of the platens for holding ther in in generally flat position the front end of an adhesive tape fed from a continuous source with the adhesively coated side thereof facing outwardly of the platen, the channels in successive platens being aligned, of spaced recesses in first face of each of the platens crossing the tape holding channel therein to hold a plurality of articles to be packaged spaced in the relationship in which they are to be mounted with a first face of each article facing the adhesively coated side of the tape and in such relationship to the tape as to be spanned thereby, means on each of the platens to feed a supporting card onto each platen from the card loading station and to locate it overlying and confronting the articles and tape and with a first broad surface of the card generally parallel and close to the second face of each article on platen, a first, broad presser member at the assembling station beneath which the platen loaded with tape, articles, and a card is movable overlying and close to the second broad face of the card on the platen, a guideway in the platen extending normal to the first face of the platen, the guideway directly communicatill with the tape as to be spanned a series 1 tape receiving channel in the platen, a second presser member mountedfor reciprocation in the guideway, the: outersurface of the second presser member constituting the bottom, tape supporting, surface of the channel, the top surface of the second presser member normally lying below the bottom surfaces of the recesses, the outer portion of the second presser member being made of yieldable, resilient, material, means responsive to travel of the platen into the assembling station to impel the second presser mei rber toward thev first presser member to press the tape, the articles, and the card together so that the tape adheres to the first face of each article and to the first face of the card at locations on both sides of each article, and means responsive to the travel of a platen out of the assembling station to retract the second presser member of such platen.

12. Apparatus for packaging a plurality of articles on each one of a pluradty of supporting cards comprising a series of platens, means to traverse the platens sequentially repeatedly from an article loading station, to a card loading station, and thence to an assembling station, a channel in a first face of each of the platens for holding therein in generally flat position the front end of an adhesive tape fed from a continuous source with the adhesively coated side thereof facing outwardly of the platen, the channels in successive platens being aligned, a series of spaced recesses in said first face of each of the platens crossing the tape holding channel therein to hold a plurality of articles to be pack-- aged spaced in the relationship in which they are to be mounted with a first face of each article facing the adhesively coated side of the tape and n such relationship to the tape as to be spa med thereby, means including a card thrusting pin on the rear edge of the platen on each of the platens to feed a supporting card onto each platen from the card loading station and to locate it overlying and confronting the articles and tape and with a first broad surface of the card generally parallel and close to the second face of each article on the platen, the pin being impelled upwardly above the first face or" the platen into card engaging position by means responsive to the travel of the platen into the card loadin station, a first broad presser as the assembling station beneath which the platen loaded with tape, articles, and a card is movable overlying and close to the second broad face of the card on the platen, a guideway in the platen extending normal to the first face of the platen,

the guideway directly communicating with the tape receiving channel in the platen, a second presser member mounted for reciprocation in the guideway, the outer surface of the second presser member being normally fiat and constituting the bottom, tape supporting, surface of the channel, the top surface of the second presser member normally lying below the bottom surfaces of the recesses, means responsive to travel of the platen into the assembling station to impel the second presser member toward the first presser member to press the tape, the articles, and the card together so that the tape adheres to the first face of each article and to the first face of the card at locations on both sides of each article, and means 1' sponsive to the travel of a platen out of the assembling station to retract the card thrusting pin of Sllqh platen and to retract the second P se m mbe o h l t n 13 separ tes fe ack in a elurallty of articles on e b cne of a plurality of supporting 

